collegechemistrystudent said:
Many people use retinol and other irritating chemicals to increase the permeability of their skin for improved minoxidil absoption. Harie is even poking holes in his skin. I just read that when you first get out of the shower, your skin is up to 5x as permeable to minoxidil as when it is dry. So for all the people using Lee's minoxidil, why not just use the shower instead? You probably only need to use it once a day if you do it after the shower, since with retinol once a day is as good as twice without. I think any of these would have just as much systemic absorption. The only way to get more to your scalp, and less to your body, is to put less on your scalp at a time and do it 3-4 times a day.
I've experimented with increasing absorption, and have posted my results a few times. But for some reason, threads on increasing absorption never gather much interest. Many people simply feel increasing minoxidil absorption isn't safe. Yet, it's probably just as un/safe as increasing daily applications, or even increasing concentrations.... from 2% to 7/10/15%.
Anyway, my results clearly showed applying minoxidil to a damp head MOST DEFINITELY increased absorption, as did petroleum jelly. I'm certain of this based on the amplified side effects, including a rapid heartbeat.
However, even with increased absorption, I never experienced much more in the way of results... perhaps a few percentage more in hair volume. Although, it did allow me to decrease my applications from twice to once daily, and my hair never suffered. I was also able to totatly drop finasteride for a few months without any adverse effects. And I like applying minoxidil on a damp head, just based on the decreased amount irritation and itching alone.
Yet, Retin-a was a much different story entirely. I think Retin-a works best because it removes the skin barrier, instead of simply trying to overcome it. Not only did Retin-a increase absorption, but it greatly increased hair volume and overall hair health... in a very short time.
Using minoxidil alone merely allowed me to have the hair of a healthy person in their late twenties, and nothing more. However, adding Retin-A with minoxidil has allowed me literally to turn back the clock. My hair now looks just as healthy and vibrant as in my teens. I get so many more compliments on my hair... just as recently as tonight. Retin-a has made my hair far less ratty looking on top.
BTW, I've always had very thick and full sides and back head hair. But now, the top of my head, where all my thinning was taking place, actually has become more healthy and full than either the sides or the back. In fact, I'm almost thinking of applying Retin-a to those areas just to even out the results. :wink: